The new Charlotte VA Health Care Center is scheduled to open this spring on West Tyvola Road in Charlotte. This photo was taking in September during a media tour of the construction site. Davie Hinshawdhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com

The new Charlotte VA Health Care Center is scheduled to open this spring on West Tyvola Road in Charlotte. This photo was taking in September during a media tour of the construction site. Davie Hinshawdhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com

The $104 million, five-story brick-and-glass building, under construction on a 35-acre site at West Tyvola Road and Cascade Pointe Boulevard west of Interstate 77, will be one of the largest in the country, according to Kenneth Mortimer, the health center’s first director. The center is expected to open in late April or early May.

At Wednesday’s open house, Medical Director Kaye Green will lead a town hall-style meeting from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on the second floor of the new center, at 3506 Tyvola Road. Tours will be available from 2 to 5 p.m.

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The new center will offer primary care and specialty care, including kidney dialysis, physical therapy and MRI testing. But it’s not a hospital. Veterans who need emergency care or hospitalization for more serious illnesses will still be directed to the closest VA hospital in Salisbury, the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center. The VA will continue to operate another outpatient clinic in Charlotte, at 8601 University East Drive.

Veterans who are not already enrolled in VA health care can bring their military discharge paperwork (DD-214) and apply for enrollment. Staff will be available to assist in determining eligibility, filling out enrollment request forms and scheduling appointments.

Executive team members of the Salisbury VAMC will be on hand as well as leaders from the Charlotte VA Health Care Center. For more information: http://www.salisbury.va.gov/construction/new/CharlotteHCC.html.